True coffee enthusiasts tend to have clear
and strong preferences about how they take their coffee, from the best
way to prepare it to the most efficient way to store it. It’s the latter
we want to talk about today. The way you store your coffee matters a
lot. Even the most high-quality bag of beans will end up tasting bitter
and stale if the coffee was stored incorrectly. So what can you do to
ensure a great-tasting cup of java?
In most cases, choose the cupboard over the
freezer
Ground coffee loses its freshness faster than whole beans because it has
more surface area that’s exposed to oxygen. You may have heard that
keeping ground coffee or whole beans in the freezer is the best way to
preserve the flavor. However, that can actually do more harm than good.
According to the National Coffee Association, the best way to store your
coffee in an airtight container. Coffee grounds are often sold in tins
that aren’t built for long-term storage, so it’s best to transfer the
coffee into a canister with an air-tight lid.
What about whole beans? They, too, lose
their freshness over time. In fact, the process starts almost as soon as
the beans are done roasting, so they could benefit from proper storage
as well. If you have a bag of beans, the best way to go would be to
secure it and store it in a resealable plastic bag.
To protect the coffee from light make sure
your container is opaque, and store it in a cool spot, like a cupboard
that isn’t too close to the stove. Avoid leaving it on a countertop spot
that gets a lot of sunlight, because it may be too warm. As we already
mentioned, the freezer should be avoided too, at least for the coffee
you drink every day. The fluctuating temperatures create moisture in the
bag or container, which can leave your morning cup tasting like
cardboard.
When to freeze?
It’s fine to freeze whole beans for up to a month to keep them fresh for
later use, provided you don’t take them out during that period. For a
larger amount of coffee, first, divide it into smaller portions, then
freeze then in airtight bags, as per the recommendation of Robert
Nelson, president, and chief executive officer of the National Coffee
Association.
When you want to use the frozen beans, let them thaw on the shelf before
grinding them. Brew within two weeks to get the most out of your
coffee.